Is the Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston Planning to Oppose Parental Rights?

This morning I received an email from Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute describing how the Diocese of Wheeling/Charleston plans to join a lawsuit against the state over a bill giving parents the freedom to choose vaccinations for their children. If true, it's a shocking position! 

Does a Catholic Diocese have more rights over children than their parents? Not according to canon law.

I Never Did Like Descartes!

I'm going to a women's day of reflection this morning. But I have a little time before I leave and this article caught my eye as I checked my email.

Descartes, Trumpian Thomism, and ‘Pronouns’

Descarte's statement, proof of being, "I think therefore I am," always seemed a bit silly to me. Why not, "I breathe, therefore I am?" Or "I speak, therefore I am." But no, like John M. Grondelski points out in the article, Descartes created a dualism and a rift between body and soul. Read the article and think about it. Have you. read 10 Books that Screwed Up the World? by Benjamin Wiker? Descartes is among the screw ups. Ideas have consequences and some ideas have really bad consequences. Just look at how gender ideology, an insane idea, has destroyed the lives of so many children.

"Without contention, without willfullness, without obstinacy...."

Today is the feast of St. Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church, a Jesuit who knew St. Ignatius. He was a powerful preacher against heresy who participated in two sessions of the Council of Trent called to address the inroads of the Protestant revolution. 

Sounds like a perfect intercessor for own day, eh? As I was reading the entry in Butler's Lives of the Saints this morning I asked St. Peter to be an intercessor overlooking and interceding for those who comment on the blog, including myself and my blog partner, Susan. St. Peter was never contentious. 

He described the "spirit and manner in which Christian apologetics and controversy should be conducted." I think it would be a blessing if all who engage in apologetics and commented anywhere on blogs or social media followed his advice. The passage I quote below relates to Protestants, but it could relate to many other situations as well. How do we react to those with whom we disagree? Are we patient, kind, not rude? Do we engage with anger seeking the elevation of our own opinions above theirs? Do we rejoice in evil to the extent of chortling over the murder of others taking pleasure in the killing as long as the ones who die are the "bad guys" according to our judgment? 

Does This Help Explain Sacrilegious Communions?

I'm reading Peter Kwasniewski's book, The Holy Bread of Eternal Life: Restoring Eucharistic Reverence in an Age of Impiety. I read several pages each day and reflect, savoring the information and the wisdom. Yesterday I came across something of which I was unaware that exploded like fireworks in my brain! Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi: "the law of prayer is the law of belief," immediately came to mind. Let's see if you have the same reaction. 

I was reading Chapter 13, The Omission that Haunts the Church. Since Vatican II there've been beaucoup omissions, but this seemed especially explosive in view of loss of belief in the Real Presence. Speaking of the expanded Lectionary devised after Vatican II with the three-year cycle of readings, Kwasniewski writes that one would expect that the expanded Lectionary would have:

Guest Post: A Letter to the Bride and Groom

Editor's note: Below is a letter a friend of mine wrote to her nephew and his prospective bride. I applaud my friend for the courage to face the potential anger of the young couple. No one likes their actions challenged. Remember the reaction of Nancy Pelosi when a reporter asked her if she hated Trump? She clearly does, but went ballistic when someone stated the truth! After all, she's a "devout Catholic."

Finding the Truth on my Kitchen Counter

I'm surrounded by "hot spots!" In the jargon of the FLY Lady, FLY stands for "Finally Loving Yourself. The FLY Lady helps people, especially hoarders, get out of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome).

A "hot spot" is a place that accumulates stuff...and more stuff...and more stuff. My hotspots are generally large stacks of paper: books, newspapers (The Remnant, The Wanderer...), magazines (Chronicles, Celebrate Life, The Defender...), newsletters (from the FSSP, the Carmelites of Cody, the Carmelites of Clear Creek Abbey...), advertisements, fast food restaurant coupons, letters and drawings from grandchildren, etc. Every now and then I attack a hot spot. Generally I don't get very far because something invariably catches my eye and I absolutely MUST sit down and read it. At 5:30 this morning I found a gem! I have no idea where it came from or who wrote it, but it is well worth sharing and so I shall.

Sunday Meditation: On Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion

I'm reading the initial magazine from W.A.K.E.U.P. 

What a beautiful apostolate! You can see and read this powerful issue here which focuses on chastity, exposes the new sexual revolution, and emphasizes traditional family values. What a resource for families, especially families with teenagers!

One article by Fr. Ed Broom, offers "Ten Ways to Win the Battle for Purity." Of course the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion are paramount in his list.

"A good confession," Father tells us, "can transform our souls ito the beauty of freshly fallen white snow on the virgin ground."

But it was Father's description of Holy Communion that made me pause and reread and then read again:

Nabi Sayeth: Shepherds, When Will You Speak about the LGBTQI Insanity?

Editor's Comment: As you read Nabi's post and watch the video about "Desmond is Amazing" consider the insanity of parents who encourage this behavior. Kids like attention. Desmond's getting plenty, all for the wrong reason. Was this going on in Sodom and Gomorrah? Were the parents of Sodom letting their little boys cross dress to become fodder for homosexuals and pedophiles in the city? The likely answer? Absolutely! Watch the dad in the video who's "proud" of Desmond's cross dressing antics. Does he act like a MAN, a father called to spiritual headship? NO! He looks to me like a wimp who's caved in to the insanity and abandoned his own manhood in the process. God help us! Pray for stupid parents and the children they are abusing through their ignorance.

LGBT Crowd in a Tizzy over Courageous Bishop Thomas Paprocki!

A modern Bishop John Fisher

Bishop: Pastors Must Deny Funerals to Catholics in Same-Gender Marriages

How encouraging to the flock to find a pastor who cares enough about the souls in his care to warn them of the danger to their souls from their "manifest grave sin." 

Yes, we are all sinners, but there's a big difference between the one who says, "Have mercy on me, Lord, for I'm a sinner" and works hard to amend his life vs. the one who says, "Love me, love my sin." and stands proudly affirming immoral behavior. The first is a struggling sinner. The second reflects arrogant scandal to all who know him.

The public circus is over --- at least for now

The Vatican released the full text of the closing message from the Synod today and it's actually quite good. Unfortunately, it can hardly undo the damage of the Ratio that went viral around the world last week to confuse Catholics and non-Catholics alike. That document focused almost exclusively on sexual issues (homosexuality, cohabitation, and reception of Communion after divorce and remarriage) and implied that the old rigid, intolerant Church has seen the light and is being transform into an open, tolerant pastoral one.

My own diocese (Arlington) joined the mainstream media this week with a frontpage CNS (Catholic News Service) article headlined "A place for gays, nonmarital unions."

Congratulations to DeSales University

They stick by their Catholic identity!

Faithful Catholic College Responds to LGBT Petition

They just said, "No." Why should a Catholic school allow a group that promotes a  lifestyle the Church believes is sinful? It's like demanding a smoking and drinking club at a Baptist school. People can smoke and drink off campus. And who is preventing LGBT students from getting together and talking about whatever. If they want their school to sanction their behavior they have the choice to go elsewhere. You can treat someone with respect as a child of God without approving their agenda. The "gay" message that anyone who disagrees with them is hateful is, in fact, hateful and slanderous. Send DeSales a big thank you for sticking by their Catholic identity! If you want to send an email click on the "contact us" link in the header.

It isn't just the Church that opposes birth control pills!

The "Cancer-Causing Convenience" All Women Should Avoid

Here are some of the risks a woman faces from use of oral contraceptives according to this article:

Cancer: Women who take birth control pills increase their risk of cervical and breast cancers, and possibly liver cancer as well.

Thinner bones: Women who take birth control pills have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than women who have never used oral contraceptives.

Heart disease: Long-term use of birth control pills may increase plaque artery buildups in your body that may raise your risk of heart disease.


Fatal blood clots: All birth control pills increase your risk of blood clots and subsequent stroke. And if your prescription contains the synthetic hormone desogestrel, your risk of fatal blood clots nearly doubles!

Impaired muscle gains: A recent study found that oral contraceptive use impairs muscle gains from resistance exercise training in women.

Long-term sexual dysfunction: The Pill may interfere with a protein that keeps testosterone unavailable, leading to long-term sexual dysfunction including decreased desire and arousal.

Migraines Weight gain and mood changes Yeast overgrowth and infection

Since there is no conflict between God's moral teachings and science, this information is not surprising to Catholics. You can't fool Mother Nature because her laws were made by the Creator.

Obviously I don't agree with the recommendation for all the other gadgets offered as "safer" alternatives that directly attack the good of pro-creation, but it was encouraging to see Natural Family Planning presented positively. It is the only method that enhances a couple's relationship while they remain open to life. It is morally legitimate to use when there is a serious reason to delay pregnancy or avoid it altogether. Couples who practice NFP rarely divorce, which is certainly not true of other birth control methods.  

Follow Catholic teaching for a healthier, happier life!

Notre Dame Observer Censors Charles Rice Column on Homosexuality

Law Professor Charles Rice has been writing for Notre Dame's independent student newspaper, The Observer, for years. But this week's Viewpoint column was rejected. The topic? Church teaching on homosexuality. Read about the controversy including the lame excuse for the Editor's censorship at the Fumare blog.  Isn't it ironic. Notre Dame's president invites the most pro-abortion politician in history to scandalize the graduating seniors and their families last May. No censorship there. But censorship of Catholic teaching is a-okay. If you want to send Professor Rice a supportive email you can reach him at rice.1@nd.edu. You can contact the editor of the Observer here. Pray for restoration of the faith at Catholic campuses. And only support solid Catholic schools. You can check some out on the sidebar.

Catholic Truth: Sanity in a lunatic world

Woman aborts other mother’s last embryo

And you wonder why the Church says IVF is immoral?